Peace celebrated at ETC

Published 7:00 pm, Friday, February 21, 2003

"Let me be empty, oh and weightless and maybe Ill find some peace tonight …" from "Angel" by Sarah MacLachlan.

A small group softly sang this song as the afternoon sunshine slanted into their classroom. On Friday, Education and Training Connection students and staff gathered for music, talk and hot chocolate as part of the Week of Nonviolence. The weeks events were sponsored by the Midland County Gang and Violence Prevention Partnership.

Lou Ecken, ETCs social worker, told the 30 to 35 students that the other side of nonviolence is love. With that in mind, papers and markers were passed out. Each student wrote his or her name on a sheet of paper and passed it around. Students were urged to write something nice about each person.

Someone wrote that Cliff was "funny, loving" and "good with kids." People found Shane to be "honest & nice" and a "good speller." Tony was "funny" and "very nice."

There was the typical teenage goofing around  one girl rubbing the top of a boys head, another play wrestling  as things started. Two tables, for making bead and string bracelets, were in a corner.

Jacob Lewis, 17, said he has seen a lot of teenagers, including himself at times, try to resolve things by violence.

"(Violence) doesnt lead to anything good," Lewis said.

Instead, Lewis said, people should find different outlets for their emotions, such as music and art.

"The answer my friend is blowin in the wind. The answer is blowin in the wind …" from "Blowin in the Wind" by Peter, Paul and Mary.

As the group sang this song, popular before most of them were born, two girls sat face to face. One girl is holding a small bag of silver beads in her lap. Both girls slide the small beads onto string to create bracelets.

Jennifer Dopp, 17, wrote something nice about the schools principal. Dopp said writing nice things about people helps their confidence.

"It lets them … know that theyre still accepted," she said.

Dopp led the way down a hall, where the students had pinned papers with thoughts about violence onto a bulletin board. Dopp looked at the board and talked about violence.

"It could just be the littlest word, but it could still hurt you," Dopp said.